Chương 17

The space between the clustered boulders was small enough Kirk was confident he could pick up a stone and strike Baelz in his forehead, for all the good it would do him. The captured on one side, the two dangerous Conduits on the other. While the other Conduit spoke rapidly to Baelz, the mustachioed man crossed his arms and frowned. Even in the mist, the small silver band gleamed, a lining to the copper armband. Kirk leaned toward Zuri.

"How can I help?"

"Were doomed," Zuri shook her head. Gone was her pleasant playfulness from their first meeting. Gone too was that sharp dismissiveness. Now she just stared blankly forward.

"It might have been possible before. But that armor- That's from the fallen Silver Conduits. A genuine treasure, probably forged and given away by the Maester Council as a reward."

"You are Tier 0- your ability to sense energy is limited." Maett said. Kirk felt a flash of sympathy; his raspy voice betrayed his recent suffocation.

"That armor generates its own natural energy field. Tier IIs can't casually shatter it." Zuri nodded, agreeing. But then after a long hesitation, Maett said.

"If given the choice, perhaps saving us from this fuck bagel would still be quite nice-""Shut it. What are you discussing?" Baelz growled. He flicked his fingers and the collar around Maett's neck began to glow with runic energy. Baelz eyes were uneasy as he looked again at Kirk. He leaned closer as his subordinate continued to urge him. Kirk straightened. He understood, from his own experience, that threats only carried so much weight. He needed to act.

The armor might be difficult to break, but Kirk had knelt and watched the tired laborer die. He couldn't remain still.

"Mr. Baelz." Almost unwillingly, he dragged his gaze up from the hollow of the man's throat. Not yet. First, negotiate. The mustachioed man lifted his head and looked at Kirk. He gestured for his subordinate to fall silent.

"What is it, Young Master Albion?"

"You are afraid of my family. But let's not talk about threats." He said, "Instead, let's talk benefits. If you are willing to release Zuri and Maett, I'll give you a valuable secret."

"A secret? What secret?" The subordinate snorted. But Baelz reached up and stroked his mustache.

"With all these treasures from silver Conduits, I believe there is very little I need. For the lives of these two traitorous curs-""The secret is about Ascension." Kirk said, very confident. He smiled.

"Aren't catalytics expensive? But I know another way."

"That's…" Again, the subordinate wanted to contradict him, but even that grizzled man appeared tempted. Baelz's eyes widened.

"The secret methods the four families use to refine catalytics… Obviously, I covet it. But…" With a visible effort, he mastered his avarice.

"Do you have it, Young Master Albion? I am on the cusp of Tier III. The catalytics I am concerned with are powerful and rare. How can you, who is just a fresh Tier 0 levy, valuable as bait and little else, provide me a secret?" Kirk smiled.

"Because the Tiers don't matter. This secret always works." Opposite him, Baelz's pupils dilated. Kirk wasn't exactly sure that was true, but his instincts informed him it would be. Besides, considering the sins that this man had committed- For a moment, Kirk's heart wavered. He turned to Zuri and asked another question.

"These guys are going to kill you now, but you planned an ambush for them first, right? Why?" Baelz offered an awkward chuckle. Zuri gave the man a furtive glance, and the mustachioed man shrugged.

"Sure, tell him of your grudge." Zuri looked back Kirk. She didn't blink; she just stared.

"My older sister worked for him. It was hard, but at least it paid. For a Tier 0 Conduit, that's often enough. Especially in a larger city. One day she told me not to look for her, for the next few days. An expedition, going deeper into the Rift.

"So I didn't think much on it, focused on my own training and jobs, when she was gone for two days, then five. It was only after ten, and the whole market was abuzz with news of the expedition's success, that I realized-" Zuri squinted, glaring at Baelz.

"When the expedition returned triumphant, my sister didn't return. Her death wasn't even reported!" Even as Kirk pondered that, Maett spoke up.

"Even porters have certain protections. If it was known that a porter died on an expedition, the Maester Council has decreed that a certain percentage of the valuable materials be given to the deceased family, as compensation."

"Yet when I confronted them, this bastard-""There was no proof she accompanied us," Baelz sniffed.

"Just your accusations." Kirk turned his gaze to Baelz. His eyes were intent.

"Did you do it?"

"Obviously." Baelz snorted.

"Young Master Albion, you understand this world. Individuals like us-- our lives are meant for more. We are stronger, better equipped, destined for greater things. Our Archetypes are superior. A common levy doesn't have our potential." Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Kirk glanced sideways at Maett, who wheezed, still barely able to breathe. He recalled that still laborer. Kirk's gaze hardened. That and this…

these are not the first times he's done things like that, is it? I don't know if I should be the one to judge another. But if I don't administer justice, who will? And on justice, there will be no compromise. Kirk pushed himself off the ground.

"Alright then. Let's do this." While the two men watched in confusion, Kirk walked over to Zuri and helped her stand. He untied the ropes and plucked up one of her hatchets.

"Here, hold this. And come over here."

"Albion," Baelz voice became cold, even as he made no move to stop Kirk.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"You wanted the secret, correct? I'll give it to you," Kirk said as he and Zuri moved over to stand next to Maett.

"If you want to Ascend with the highest quality catalytics, simply do it here, inside the Rift." Baelz just stared at him. Kirk looked the other man in the eye. At the moment, the most important thing was saving his friends.

"If you don't believe me-""Do you take me for a fool?" Baelz seemed disappointed.

"Ascending within the Rift? Ridiculous. Cease this farce or I will need to reconsider my associate's recommendation of simply killing you. It is a risk, but this impertinent behavior cannot be allowed." Zuri hesitated and whispered.

"Kirk, we can't punch through that armor. So you need to-""No one believes," Kirk shook his head.

"Break their fingers and take their weapons," Baelz growled. He raised his arms and the glittering armor released a shimmering curtain.

"With such a foolhardy attitude, it is no wonder that Young Master Albion will have a dangerous accident inside the Rift."

"With pleasure," The scarred subordinate grinned. With a quick gesture, Kirk plucked the sac from his waist and tossed it at the man. More surprised than anything else, the man intercepted it with his weapon, knocking it to the side. The geo cores clinked together as they landed in front of Baelz. The man chuckled and began to advance. Baelz just sneered.

"Are we fleeing?" Maett rasped. Kirk put his hand on Maett's shoulder.

"I understand now. We cannot compromise. Not with him. And if that leads me to death, well. Then I guess this life is over."

"You stupid fool." Baelz shook his head slowly. Kirk let his eyes fall to Baelz's throat, as his subordinate advanced. He spoke to Zuri and Maett.

"Don't miss the chance. Tet Ah Coon Eh Pah." Perhaps it was the force of righteousness that Kirk felt, but the Ember that he summoned was the strongest he had ever created. A fist of red fire condensed, blazing in front of his chest. Baelz looked at that fire and cackled." This is the source of your confidence? I thought you had some treasure of the Albion family. Well, whatever. Turns out Kirkland Albion is just as much a fool as the rumors say-" Kirk pointed. The ember shot forward.

The subordinate raised his weapon again, but the aim wasn't for him. The Ember reached the sack of cores on the ground. The bag burned away on impact. A strange crackling caused everyone to flinch. Ignited, the thirty-four crystals exploded. Even Kirk wasn't sure what happened next.

There was heat and force as the explosion ripped its way outward. He was several meters away, but a palm of air slapped him into the boulder behind him. His face felt hot and singed as he collapsed down. He wheezed and blinked. His jumbled senses gradually settled as the waves of fire plumed up. The space revealed itself. Maett was crumpled nearby, along with Zuri, who propped herself up. Meanwhile, across the circle, flames licked the ground. The blast had been concentrated there.

Kirk felt a twinge of pity, as he saw the burnt husk of the subordinate, crisped by the explosion in a second. Meanwhile, Baelz groaned and staggered back to his feet. The armor was covered in soot and partially dented; most of the energy had dispersed. But he wasn't dead. He raised a hand and ripped off the helmet. From the angry red lines of the bared skin, the heat had done more damage than anything else. He glared at Kirk.

"You bastard!" Per his prediction, when Kirk picked up and threw a stone, searing his hand in the process, it arched directly toward Baelz's forehead. But the man slapped it to the side. His eyes were red as he glared at Kirk.

"I'm going to-" Before he could continue, a hatchet thunked into his neck. Baelz gaped like a landed fish. With trembling hands, he reached up and touched the wound. His eyes widened. Almost instinctively, he ripped the hatchet out of his neck. His lifeblood waterfalled onto the ground. He stared at his own hands.

"But- I am- This cannot-" He looked up at Kirk. His lips were crimson.

"This isn't fair."

"If you knew that," Kirk sighed.

"Why did you make these choices?" Baelz took a staggering step and then collapsed.

"Kirk! Are you alright?" Zuri hurried over.

"That was- exploding cores like that-""You gorgeous genius." Maett flopped over onto his back, gasping for air. He used his hands to loosen the collar around his neck. Kirk waved a hand.

"Just… a moment. I need- before the energy disperses-" Kirk stumbled forward. His mind spun, but he quickly remembered the words. Flames and ambient energy flickered around the scorched site, but they were rapidly fading. Then he stopped himself, slumped down, and heaved up the Larian Saber, which had been knocked onto the ground by the explosion. He simply exhaled and inhaled, gathering his energy to pick it up. He considered just leaving it on the ground, because the vicious indignation had faded.

Rather than satisfaction, all he felt was exhaustion. Yet Kirk gritted his teeth and hauled. He raised the weapon up. Then, with it leaning against his shoulder, he said the eleven syllables. A runic field appeared, swirling in all the ambient fire energy to a concentrated point. The scattered flames from the explosion swayed. Then the energy concentrated right in front of Kirk. A half-meter tall tongue of purple and black flame floated opposite him. He showed his teeth.

His arms were already sore but he ignored them. He glanced at his information.

Name: Kirkland Albion Archetype: Spark Mage (0) -Runes: Summon Ember -Manifestations: [None] -Ascension: Cultivation (Fire 1/1)[Vengeful Flame] Archetype: Beast (0) -Runes: [None] -Manifestations: Heighten Senses -Ascension: Death Eating (30/30) Feats: -Solo Kills ✷✷✷ -Alien Taste ✷✷ -Alien Moon ✷ -One Strike Kill ✷✷ -Runic Castor ✷✷ -Crisis Assistance ✷✷ -Larian Wielder ✷ - Tier I Slayer ✷✷ -Tier II Slayer ✷✷✷✷ -Explosive Runes ✷"Time to Ascend," Kirk whispered.